Can't seem to find this situation-

We live in Bryan, TX. I have set up a front (South facing) garden with plants that love the area. On a semi partial shaded corner I have a bird feeder and bird bath. I also have rainbow butterfly bushes for butterflies, jasmine and an arbor.

I want to attract both. Now in our backyard which is the North side of the house, we are putting in a vegetable garden with things in suitable growing areas.

My problem? Coral, Copperhead and Garden snakes. Iiiiiick! I know that when the garden gets going...it will attract birds, bugs, maybe frogs, etc. Otherwise known as "snake bate".

How can I make it as inhospitable as possible, without compromising my desire to have birds and butterflies? We do have large hawks around, and I have heard an occasional owl at night, as well as we have of course...bats.

I have heard that if you put up a 10' good sized perch, it encourages hawks and owls (number One predator of snakes, rabbits, rodents, etc.), BUT again...I don't want to threaten song birds and the like.

Any help out there? I in NO WAY want to encounter one when gardening the veggies. Or sitting in the front on warm/hot evenings.

Note: I have never seen (thank God) anything but a very tiny garden snake. But just a couple days ago...a large Copperhead was found in the yard a street over and the lady managed to grab her small dog just in time. This is and now on is the "active" season.

Here is some info on deterring snakes in home and garden. We have mostly King Snakes, which eat other snakes, garter snakes, and occasionally earthworm snakes which are very tiny and tend to hide from humans. Most of the other snakes around here tend to stay in the less populated areas.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/snakes/deterring.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4457389_repel-snakes-from-backyard.html

http://doyourownpestcontrol.com/snakeaway.htm

http://www.helium.com/items/1821361-how-to-deter-snakes-from-coming-in-your-yard

I freaking hate snakes...

I was in line at the dollar store not that long ago and the guy in front of me was buying 20 boxes of Moth Balls. I looked at him and said what the heck are you up too? He said he puts them out every year around his property line to keep away snakes. And was really sure it worked. He said that was all that snake away was. I had/have no idea what snake away was/is. I had never heard of that before but he seemed really convinced that method worked.

Good Luck

This message was edited Mar 15, 2011 10:25 AM

The third link above has info for Snakeaway. I would imagine the Naptha (I think is still the main ingredient) in moth balls would work at least somewhat. Snakes 'taste" the air with their tongues and I would think the Naptha would "burn". I know overexposure to moth balls (In a closed area) is considered unhealthy.

Many folks use moth balls to deter rodents (mice and squirrels) in attics and storage sheds.

Here's some info on using mothballs as a snake (or other critter/insect) repellent). Apparently they can be toxic to animals. This would also apply to Snakeaway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball